As the final international fixture before Hodgson names a provisional World Cup squad on May 13, the omission of Davies and Huddlestone has been widely construed as the death knell to their hopes of earning a ticket to Brazil.

Steve Bruce remains adamant that his influential duo will still be in Hodgson’s thoughts and with a quarter of the Premier League season remaining, the City boss says the dream is not yet over.

Related content

“They’ve just got to stick at it, stay with it and, as I’ve said before, there’s always a surprise,” said Bruce, who will task both players with helping City take another step towards survival at home to Newcastle this afternoon.

“All they can do is keep playing and knocking on the door. It’s difficult because England’s got good players.

“Roy’s the only one. He’s the one who knows but I would have thought he’d have an open mind and there’s still two months of the season left. Injuries play a part, we’ll see.

“I’m sure they’re in and around. I can only speak based on what I see, and Roy’s got his job to do.

“It’s all about opinions. You can only do your best and try to force your way into the squad.

“For Curtis and Tom to be even linked with it, they’ve got to stick with it and keep performing, then who knows?”

While the previously capped Huddlestone faces fierce competition for one of Hodgson’s midfield spots, Davies had hoped injuries to Phil Jagielka and Phil Jones would end his six-year wait for a call-up. Instead, England named Cardiff’s Steven Caulker as one of only three central defenders with Gary Cahill and Chris Smalling.

Bruce can empathise with Davies having been regarded as one of the best defenders never to be recognised by England during a distinguished playing career and admits he would have included the City man had he been in charge.

“Consistency-wise, he’s arguably been our best player. He can only keep doing that every week. There might be more twists and turns.

“In my opinion, Curtis would be in there above Caulker but I’ve worked with Curtis for the last six months, so I know what he brings to the table.

“I haven’t spoken with him. All you can do is keep playing well. The kid can only do what he’s doing. I wouldn’t give up hope. It’s every footballer’s dream to go to a World Cup. Who knows, they might get on the plane to go to Brazil.”

The first objective for Huddlestone and Davies will be to ensure City’s Premier League survival when Newcastle visit the KC today. Among the travelling Toon Army party will be out-of-favour defender Steven Taylor, but Bruce has dismissed reports linking him with a summer move as “a load of rubbish.”